Don’t just manage, Lead. Don’t just lead, excel and be exceptional in the leadership position you hold.
In the first post in this Robin Morgan series, her unconditional service was showcased. In this second series post, her great insights into leadership exceptionalism -in the non-profit world- are explored.
- There are four must-have qualities that the best non-profit leaders and Executive Directors have.
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Robin Morgan
What qualities are evident in the best leaders? Some non-profit leaders are quite good. Some are more suited for just development or program. I’ve seen them all!
The ones that work the best, I feel, are those that believe in the organization’s mission. They can sell the mission. They can sell the mission and the organization without thought. It comes naturally for such leaders.
Good leaders, good Executive Directors, are willing to roll up their sleeves. Most good ones have a good working relationship with their group, board and their donors. They are willing to put that vanity piece aside, roll up their sleeves, and just dig in.
Executive Directors are the best salesman for the organization. If they are not willing to do this, their organizations are subject to failure. I often say that an executive director that spends all day, every day behind the desk is losing the opportunity to connect with individuals and foundations possibly could be a game changer for the organization. This is a key leadership trait.
Another key of trait of non-profit leadership is, I feel, a willingness to listen and learn. Why? Because not every idea or vision a leader has works or will work. Things are ever-changing. Grantors change from year to year. Donors change from year to year. The best Executive Directors have to be ready to evolve. They have to look forward into the future, and make sure they’re ready for the change – even before the change transpires.
LEARN
Exceptional Non-Profit leaders have these 4 qualities:
- They believe in the mission.
- They can elaborate on the organization’s mission with their ‘whole heart’.
- They lead by example, willing to roll up their sleeves when necessary to get the job done.
- They stand as Change-ready Visionaries, willing to listen, learn, and evolve.
This is the only way, Morgan feels, to lead an evolving organization toward sustainability. As stated previously on this blog, “you have to know what you know and what you don’t know [and be] honest with yourself” (Challenges I’ve Faced, 7/29/15). What you seek to learn, and how you choose to change your organization (evolve it), are shaped by good listening and forward thinking.
GROW
Salesmanship: A key leadership trait Robin Morgan feels. As she shared above, in talking about non-profit leaders, “If they are not willing to do this, their organizations are subject to failure.” That is a bold, but true statement by her.
What role does enthusiasm and ‘non-sales selling’ play in the life of an exceptional non-profit leader?
- Enthusiasm: A Leadership Elixir
One small item, one huge affect – Enthusiasm
The true story of one man sheds light on the merits of being enthusiastic, not lackluster.
Frank Bettger received the shock of his life when his manager informed him he was fired from his Johnstown (PA), Tri-State baseball team because he was too lazy. On his way out the door, his manager told Bettger to put some life and enthusiasm into his work.
Watching his pay drop by a whopping 85%, due to Bettger’s lack of enthusiasm, he took the advice to heart as he embarked on his new job. He worked on it, changed his attitude, and landed a new position in a short period of time. Recognizing the improved results, he became known as “Pep” Bettger. The local paper (New Haven Register) would later write:
“This new player, Bettger, has a barrel of enthusiasm. He inspired our boys. They not only own the game, but looked better than at any time this season.”
Injury ended Bettger’s career prematurely. He would go on to write a bestselling book, How I Raised Myself From Failure To Success In Selling, and have a 32-year long, successful insurance sales career. He said:
“Enthusiasm is by far the highest paid quality on earth, probably because it is one of the rarest; yet it is one of the most contagious.”
- Sell Well or Struggle to Lead Exceptionally
In his bestseller To Sell is Human, Daniel Pink shared this finding:
People are now spending about 40 percent of their time at work engaged in non-sales selling – persuading, influencing, and convincing others in ways that don’t involve a purchase.
Robin Morgan, having spent almost 30 years in the Non-Profit space, expressed above that selling is a key leadership trait. It surely is. Daniel Pink has stated that we spend 24 minutes of every hour ‘moving others’ by selling. To Sell is indeed human.
Call it whatever you want, but remember this: Successful non-profits leaders sell others by moving them to invest in their cause. Period. Their passion is contagious.
- What other qualities, in your mind, help define the best non-profit leaders? Feel free to offer your insights or feedback in the comment section – at the bottom of this post.
We will share other nuggets from Robin Morgan’s non-profit journey in the upcoming months on this blog. In this post we’ve featured the qualities that distinguish the best leaders from the rest. They believe wholeheartedly in a mission; it is one they can express and ‘sell’ well. They understand that change is inevitable and that ‘roll up your sleeve’ days will occur.
- The next post in this Series: Non-profit Leadership: Tell-tale Signs of an Ineffective Leader.
Your Outcomes Well
Better outcomes through Best Practices (Non-profit leaders)
Photo credit: David Spinks/flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Your Outcomes Well
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